Audacity Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners (2024)

How to use Audacity to Record & Edit Audio - Beginners Tutorial (2024). In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to record and edit audio using Audacity. Audacity is free, open-source, and works across platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Audacity has the easiest interface and hence very easy to get started as a beginner. Though Audacity is free and lightweight, it is a very powerful audio editor if you know how to use it properly. I have tried to show you some nice editing techniques and features of Audacity in this beginner-level tutorial.
Professional Podcasters and Voice-Over artists use Audacity as it does the job properly. People also use Audacity to edit audio for KZbin videos.
Audacity 3.2.5 has been used, the latest version at the time of making this beginner-level tutorial. After completing this tutorial, please check other tutorials on this channel, like how to make your sound better using Audacity or how to use multiple tracks in Audacity.
Covering how to record, how to edit, and how to make your voice sound better. In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to record and edit audio using Audacity. Shows the basic use of all the necessary tools in Audacity and discusses all the necessary audio effects.
Covers everything from how to set up a microphone to how to get polished audio from a recording. Watch this mega Audacity tutorial, and you will become very comfortable and confident using Audacity.
Some TimeStamps:
00:00 How to record
15:38 Add labels
20:25 How to add effects
40:54 Real-time effects
Audacity Course Bundle: www.buymeacoffee.com/mastered...
1-click sound better macros: www.buymeacoffee.com/mastered...

[@MasterEditor5]

Audacity Course Bundle: www.buymeacoffee.com/mastereditor/e/187119 1-click sound better macros: www.buymeacoffee.com/mastereditor/e/145545

[@StephenCarterStressExpert]

I've used Audacity for years and watched scores of videos focused on how to use it from beginner level to advanced user. This gentleman provides tips and Audacity features I have never seen shared in other tutorials. This video and his other Audacity tutorials are excellent resources no matter if you're a brand new user or you've used the application for years. Highly, highly recommended.

[@MasterEditor5]

Thank you. Your comment made me feel my effort was worth. Thank you again.

[@rideshareadvice-nj4mv]

How do you hook up the NEEWER NE-700?

[@johnbug1334]

How do you save it so you can upload it to KZbin? I have a song but I do not know how to export it properly.

[@rhylin26]

“EQ is the process of editing volume by frequencies.” I’ve done audio for awhile and this one sentence made the concept of EQ finally click for me!

[@MasterEditor5]

That's feel good to hear 🙂

[@chrisherry4028]

Thank You Mike.. very clear explanation to follow through while watching. i think it could be much better with time track to jumpin' rounnd / search a certain issue. Great Job

[@MasterEditor5]

Get 1-click sound better macro Pack: www.buymeacoffee.com/MasterEditor/e/145545

[@romualdyomkil6154]

Thanks for giving hope to beginners! You nailed it.

[@MasterEditor5]

Glad you liked it!!

[@Psychedelics22]

Very detailed, thank you!

[@MasterEditor5]

You are welcome 🙂

[@nathansr-ji5tq]

Very Helpful Tutorial. Thanks a lot for sharing !

[@MasterEditor5]

You are welcome!

[@jangAckman]

Great tutorial. Thank you very much!

[@MasterEditor5]

You are very welcome :-)

[@esal.00]

This was excellent, thank you very much. I hope you get as much attention as you rightfully deserve!

[@MasterEditor5]

Thank you too!

[@mrsheehy9896]

Thank you for posting this tutorial!!

[@MasterEditor5]

Welcome 🙂

[@jemandthemystery]

Creating a tempo/click/ rhythm track would be good to know. Example use case: Recording some rhythm guitar tracks to a certain tempo in a home recording environment before exporting them elsewhere (eg. A music studio) to continue there in other DAW software. You will want the home recorded guitars to match the studio project tempo. Use case #2: importing a rough stereo mix from a studio and matching the tempo in Audacity before recording some extra tracks on top and sending those back. As you can see, I’m asking if Audacity can be used as a simple setup as a complement to a larger, DAW setup elsewhere for making quick additions to that larger project.

[@jimheumann]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@MasterEditor5]

You're welcome!

[@28102650]

I agree that locking the label to the audio would be very useful! It frustrates me no end that they aren't locked now.

[@ArjunTheSeekerOfTruth]

Thanks a lot for making this tutorial. God Bless You.

[@MasterEditor5]

You are welcome 🙂

[@Ravitforseniors]

Great learning experience, this tutorial covers it all for me! I'm using Audacity for voice over and singing as well

[@MasterEditor5]

Great to hear!

[@Steve-cp4vl]

I couldn't have watched this at a better time. I'm learning Audacity now and loving it. Thank you for an excellent video. I am forever subscribed. 😃

[@MasterEditor5]

You're very welcome!

[@steph5494]

Same here. He is thorough. ❤

[@edberam4074]

Great teacher. Thank you.

[@MasterEditor5]

You are welcome 🙂

[@andrewk5418]

I'd like some more tutorial on the topic of when I've made a mistake (I do that often!) in my voiceover and I need to re-record a section of audio. I have done the second recording and it was placed at the end of the track. So far, so good. But when I attempted to copy that second recording and place it in the original track, everything went askew. The first error I encountered was "There is not enough room to paste the selection." But I managed to figure that one out. But I can't figure out why the segments I record later (to correct my errors) are pushing everything all over the place. Sometimes it seems like my original is being overwritten, but at other times, it is not being overwritten. I'm so confused that I don't even know if what I've said now makes sense!

[@songoflovemetalofficial]

thank you

[@MasterEditor5]

You're welcome

[@roydunstan1331]

Thank you very much this has been a great help to me but I will have to watch it over a few more times before It sinks in

[@MasterEditor5]

Welcome :-). Yes, It would be difficult to watch it in one go. Watching, practicing, and repeating this cycle will get the best result.

[@sniri786]

Thanks, very usefull tutorial

[@MasterEditor5]

You're welcome!

[@MasterEditor5]

After watching this video, you should watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJuoYZKsopeHadE Here I talked about how Audacity Noise reduction performs compared to Adobe Audition. If you want to get into professional audio editing, Adobe Audition can be a good choice.

[@sideve5526]

Hello and congratulations on your video! I wanted to ask you for some info: if I have an mp3 audio file and I import it into Audacity to modify it when I export it, I always export it in mp3 or to have better quality(?) I export it in wav for example with a setting like: freq.44100 and a 32bit encoding? Or doesn't it make anything better? Thank you!

[@MasterEditor5]

WAV format will not make the audio better than it is. WAV is a lossless audio format. So if your goal is to toss around the audio file between people/projects, then WAV is preferable. If you want the final audio file after completing editing in Audacity, Mp3 is fine.

[@rn5193]

Hi , Thanks for the video. It is really very interessant. I'm an old (70) beginner, looked at a lot of videos about Audacity, but don't have found anywhere what I'm looking for: How can I use Audacity to mix the sound coming from Aria Player? I'm using a keyboard connected with MIDI cable to my Win10 PC and want to mix the Garritan sounds of Aria Player with the sound of my webcam and from a soundtrack. Mix and record sounds from my Webcam and from a soundtrack is OK, but from Aria Player I don't know how. Could you realize a tutorial video how to do this? Perhaps it is using a VST plugin, perhaps using VB-virtual cable. I tried with VB-virtual cable without success. Perhaps there are parameters to set to the VB. A video would be useful. If it is really easy and don't need a video, give me please the solution in the answer. Note, I tried with VoiceMeeter and had the same problem.

[@LILRHONDALEE]

Thank you for all of your info.! I am a vocalist who plans on laying down my vocals with an instrumental music or KAR track. Can you tell me how I can monitor my vocals with effects, while recording? Thank you!

[@MasterEditor5]

Software playthrough from transport menu will let you live monitoring. But I don't think Audacity supports live monitoring with effects.

[@LILRHONDALEE]

@@MasterEditor5 Thank you. I was hoping that wasn't the case, although I cannot figure out how to do it. Do you know much about Ableton? Do you know if it is possible with that DAW? I am a pro vocalist, and I have sang on many music projects in a pro studio, and I know it can and is done most of the time, so I figure that there must...there has to be a way. Why would anyone want to record their vocals if they could only hear their voice dry? That would be ridiculous! Yet, despite my searching for many months, I cannot find anyone, any video, or any info. about how to make it happen. Any advice?

[@MasterEditor5]

Audio clean up course: www.udemy.com/course/audio-clean-up-mastery-of-audio-and-video-files/?couponCode=5F5DCC4BBB06A047D715

[@lukasfletcher4732]

Very informative video. Would just like to point out that at 34:22 when comparing EQ'd vs original, there are more changes than just the EQ. Would have been nice to hear the difference with just the EQ changes isolated.

[@MasterEditor5]

Good point!

[@sukarminbelajar8482]

i like it, thank for creator

[@MasterEditor5]

You are welcome :-)

[@PufferBoyzOffcial]

@MasterEdition5 I just want to ask. where can i find the ( Project Rate Hz ) to put in my left buttom thank you !

[@MasterEditor5]

Audacity changed the location to Audio Setup-> Audio settings

[@suzannefrank5089]

Fantastic! I will return with feedback once I have mixed the first podcast 😂

[@MasterEditor5]

Thanks

[@Lorenzo5NY]

Thank you for the tutorial. It was very helpful. How do I now export what I have recorded to a CD from my MacBook Air❓

[@MasterEditor5]

You can not burn CD directly from Audacity. You have to export your recording as WA file from Audacity. Then You have to use a CD burning software.

[@Lorenzo5NY]

@@MasterEditor5 Thank you.

[@SonicVibe-Jason]

That's good stuff. I missed one thing, in the audio settings should I use the Host MME? I am about to start an audio book, so this helped alot. Any tips and tricks about basic narration would be highly appreciated. Again, great video and thanks alot... Subscribed!

[@MasterEditor5]

You are welcome :-). Yes, MIME should work fine.

[@SonicVibe-Jason]

@@MasterEditor5 thanks watching ALL your other videos right now :))

[@KofiBonsrah]

Please make a video on ways of recording and mixing music on audacity

[@TWOKDOK1]

Effects. I am having to use Pitch effect because for some reason, my recording of voice and guitar through an M-Audio Fast Track interface. is shifting the pitch up by about 8%. I suspect that this has something to do with sampling frequency mismatchs but can't find any. Would appreciate some guidance on this so that I don't have to shift the pitch of every recording.

[@MasterEditor5]

Both recordings are having pitch shifting or only voice?

[@the-blue-spark]

Do you have to use a processor (like Scarlett, or the box I have for Studio One or Ardour) to record? I'm just getting started with podcasting.

[@MasterEditor5]

If you use USB microphone, you will not need any interface. But if you use XLR microphone, you will need an interface

[@the-blue-spark]

@@MasterEditor5 Thank you.

[@moviematix8292]

It would be really useful if you add timestamps 25:25 remove background noise

[@MasterEditor5]

Same video with my voice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npOwc2Sdn8-DhMU

[@llednop]

Will this work for recording guitar playing with high audio quality? Thank you

[@MasterEditor5]

Yes, recording quality is as good as other softwares.

[@ramaramalingam9809]

Hi I used Audacity version 3.1.3 in my Windows 8.1 laptop and it worked very well, then recently I upgraded my operating system to Windows 10. After that I can't get any sound from my Audacity (Though I get sound from other sources such as KZbin). I thought I should upgrade my Audacity version , so I downloaded & installed Audacity version 3.2.5, but still no sound from replays though I can record or do other functions in Audacity. Can you help me to get sound from Audacity replays?. Thank you very much . Rama

[@MasterEditor5]

I suggest you post this issue to Audacity forum.

[@kgothatsotshabangu]

buen video

[@MasterEditor5]

Thanks

[@lindameckler792]

Hi I'm new to Audacity but I do not have the shift tool. I have the newest version. How do I get it Thanks Linda Meckler

[@MasterEditor5]

Are you talking about timeshift tool? The new Audacity do not have that!

[@micamge]

you merely mentioned saved B.R. like Vbr o Abr. what difference does in result export.

[@MasterEditor5]

This was a beginner level tutorial. I will discuss those in a more advanced level tutorials

[@jeevanlite]

awesome bro ...i downloaded it . 😂 to listen many times so that i learn

[@MasterEditor5]

Great 👍

[@nnamaniuche5971]

Does all this apply to recording from a amplifier or mixer. I can't record praise in church with instruments

[@MasterEditor5]

From amplifier

[@97warlock]

If SIX is recommended in noise reduction for voice .......what would be a good number for drums keyboard bass & vocals ?? ?

[@MasterEditor5]

For vocals it would be 6 generally.

[@97warlock]

yep. just hoping someone might have a good number for drums bass guitar & vocals,like a full song@@MasterEditor5

[@rideshareadvice-nj4mv]

I own the Neewer NW-700 microphone setup and have the USB plugged into my PC along with the white E-10 box. I cannot locate my microphone at all on the drop-down menu on Audacity.

[@MasterEditor5]

Do you plug the microphone first and then open Audacity or vice versa? You should connect the microphone first and then open Audacity. What name the microphone is getting on Windows system settings?

[@rideshareadvice-nj4mv]

Under the AUDIO SETUP drop-down menu, i select RECORDING DEVICE and the NW-700 is not listed. Instead, there is MICROPHONE ARRAY (2-twv123456B) and MICROSOFT SOUND MAPPER input. What does all this mean? I have the E-10 box hooked up.

[@rideshareadvice-nj4mv]

@@MasterEditor5 Do I need to purchase that Phantom Power Box?

[@MasterEditor5]

@@rideshareadvice-nj4mv Isn't it a USB microphone? USB mics do not need phantom power

[@rideshareadvice-nj4mv]

@@MasterEditor5 Yes it is a USB. But for the some reason, Audacity cannot detect the microphone.

[@Papa-gr2zi]

I have a question. I have a 1 hr file that I would like to go right to the 30 minute mark directly. Is there a way? Or, when I stop listening, when I reopen the file it will go to where I stopped listening? Bookmark? Admittedly I haven’t watched your video yet.

[@Papa-gr2zi]

Sorry to bother you. I downloaded the latest version and now start selection works. Thanks

[@MasterEditor5]

Press "[" in the keyboard and input the time of the mark.

[@AtticusJacksonASMR]

Wow, you really made a whole tutorial video on using audacity, but used an AI voiceover for it. That's...something else.

[@MasterEditor5]

hmm, so what do you think in terms of information quality?

[@AtticusJacksonASMR]

@@MasterEditor5 I wasn't able to finish the video because the AI voice was very grating

[@mikemessner1680]

Is there a meaningful difference between Reverb and Echo?

[@MasterEditor5]

Echo is one kind of reverb. There are other types are reverb which are different from echo. Those reverbs are kind of echoey but differs in the echo amount and the kind of place that produces that reverb.

[@philbooth6372]

Hi,I followed your video up to about 5 mins however I am now stumped because I cannot find "project rate"on the screen,yours appears to be in the bottom left corner whereas mine has tempo and time signatures there? Can you advise please?

[@MasterEditor5]

If you are using Audacity 3.4.2, you will find it under Audio Setup --> Audio Settings

[@philbooth6372]

Thank you@@MasterEditor5

[@JosephLIsles]

When i record my song with separate background karaoke,how come when i listen to voice recording only, i can still hear the background music. Hope you can help with my concern. More power. Thanks in advance

[@MasterEditor5]

What is your overdub settings? I have discussed in this video about overdub settings. Have you watched that?

[@JosephLIsles]

I will watch again Sir@@MasterEditor5. Thank you so much

[@JosephLIsles]

my overdub setting is on,i turn it off now. Thanks a lot@@MasterEditor5. I really learn a lot from you.

[@hopeforamerica1714]

Long video with a lot of info, thank you. I would suggest putting a lot more timestamps in a video like this as I found it difficult to go back and find specific info, but thank you. Here is my question: You began the effects portion saying that the effects needed to be done in the order of, 1-Noise reduction, 2-EQ, 3-Compressor, 4-Normalize. However, when you got to the Real-time effects portion those were not done in that order. So, in real-time effects it does not matter what order to do them, correct? (The Normalization was not addressed in the real-time effects?) But if done the other way, in Audacity settings, they do need to be in the first order, correct?

[@MasterEditor5]

Thanks for the feedback. The order of effect rule is more complex than I showed in this video. For real time effects, I mainly focused on how to use real time effects. Also not all effects are available as real time effects in Audacity. If you think about the sequence of effects that must be followed will be Noise reduction, EQ, Compressor. The Normalize effect can be used any time and multiple times. For example, you can Normalize at the beginning and at the end. However, other effects should follow that sequence if used. So Noise Reduction Before EQ if used. And EQ before Compressor if used.

[@hopeforamerica1714]

@@MasterEditor5 Thank you for the clarification! I'm very new to all of this. Can other plugins be added to Audacity outside of Muse? For example, someone is saying the best free EQ plugin is '2nd Sense Audio 2S EQ'. Is that something you would recommend or the EQs in Audacity/Muse are good enough? Thanks.

[@MasterEditor5]

@@hopeforamerica1714 Yes, other third-party plugins can be added to Audacity. However, not all of them run smoothly. I have not used 2nd sense. I would recommend TDR nova as free EQ plugin

[@hopeforamerica1714]

@@MasterEditor5 Thank you sir! Can I ask you a couple more questions? What is the best technique to remove or filter out mouth noises? And could you recommend one or two video editing software that allows me to record a voice over directly over a video?

[@MasterEditor5]

@@hopeforamerica1714 Mouth noises would require a long answer. I have some videos on my channel, I suggest you watch those from the videos page of my channel. If you are talking about screen recording and voice over recording at the same time, I use Camtasia

[@eho149]

We record songs by semi professional singers who may not be able to sing a whole song at one time. We'd have to record it line by line. Therefore many tracks would be recorded to combine one song. Their singing level for each segment may not be consistant. Is there any way we can level the segments on different tracks at a reasonable same level? Best regard, Eddy

[@MasterEditor5]

Select all tracks and Normalize. Yet better will be Compress then normalize. If you are interested to get a custom build macro for this, please send me an email

[@eho149]

@@MasterEditor5 please give me the email address to reach you. Thanks.

[@eho149]

@@MasterEditor5 please provide me your email address.

[@commanderkelly1772]

I am new to Audacity and have installed in on my computer but I do not see the project rate like it show on your screen, How do I get this to show?

[@MasterEditor5]

This was made with a bit older version. You can watch the video Audacity 3.3.3 tutorial. That interface is the same of latest Audacity

[@commanderkelly1772]

Thank you for your reply, I will watch that.@@MasterEditor5

[@01zoya]

How t can i my effect list longer make? If i put it in the plug in folder then is he not in audacity

[@MasterEditor5]

I am not sure if I am understanding your question. Are you trying to install a third party plugin? Which plugin you are trying to install?

[@01zoya]

i really want to have all those sound effects in my list like everyone else only that i can't manage the effects iomen not appear in my list even if i don't put them in the plug in folder

[@01zoya]

Do you have discord can you help me please? Im 20 years

[@01zoya]

Bvb i want noice reduction but how can i download that etc

[@01zoya]

I have been working for ours but its not working

[@brandi2647]

My audio setup only shows my iMac speakers and microphone, how do I fix this?

[@MasterEditor5]

what microphone are you using?

[@brandi2647]

@@MasterEditor5 BM800 condenser mic

[@MasterEditor5]

Select microphone. Some mic doesn't show the name, instead show microphone

[@brandi2647]

@@MasterEditor5 it doesn’t show that as an option either, it just shows iMac mic or iPhone mic, should download another version?

[@MasterEditor5]

Is it a USB microphone? Version should not be a problem. But still you can reinstall Audacity.

[@jitojor87]

Is there another version with your real voice? I really prefer your real voice. Thank you!

[@MasterEditor5]

Yes, it is divided in step by step on my own voice, Part 1 is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/il7UoH9pi7eUapI You will find part 2 on that videos description and so on.

[@ArnoldwilliamDow]

Help! why am I gettin an echo?

[@MasterEditor5]

I am not sure what kind of echo you are talking

[@coldcrush1]

Can Audacity be used with touch screen?

[@MasterEditor5]

Like on iPad or smartphones? then no

[@coldcrush1]

@@MasterEditor5 I wanted to use it on a windows touch screen laptop

[@MasterEditor5]

@@coldcrush1 Then it should work as Audacity works on Windows

[@8BPCheats]

bro how you did the voice on the video you are indian but the voice used on the video in different?

[@MasterEditor5]

Who said I am Indian? :-)

[@8BPCheats]

@@MasterEditor5 when you stareted recording in audacity your voice is like that

[@MasterEditor5]

@@8BPCheats hmm, I am from Bangladesh so the voice sound like Indian

[@baruchben-david4196]

Sounds like the narrator is software. It's an excellent effort, but there are a couple of peculiar quirks that a human recorder wouldn't make. Like how the voice said to press the "RECord" button, instead of the "reCORD" button.

[@MasterEditor5]

Yes, you are spot on! :-)

[@draugami]

I appreciate the tutorial and the information. I am learning alot. But please please please don't use a computer to do the narration.

[@MasterEditor5]

Thanks for the tip. I have another channel where you can get the narration in my voice

[@the-blue-spark]

I meant to say "interface," sorry.

[@phattrienbanthan360do]

39

[@MasterEditor5]

what is it?

[@tiouip]

Too bad, the robotic tone is unbearable. Can’t use this.😢

[@MasterEditor5]

I have the same video in my voice in "Master" channel.

[@nicolehickman1590]

I hate to be negative, but this custom 2D intro by Matt Sowards didn't impress me at all. The design looked outdated

[@MasterEditor5]

?

[@roanokejoe]

Funny. A video about voice overs has a crappy auto-generated voice over.

[@MasterEditor5]

Have fun 😁

[@amymaki2918]

Not enjoying the robo voice. Ending just two minutes in. 😐

[@MasterEditor5]

I understand. If you could ignore that, you would get effective tips and trick :-)

[@RobertLofrano]

Too many dead drop-down menus endless circles of bullshit

[@MasterEditor5]

Such as?

[@Detached_AZ]

Beginners? Wow. Way over my head, sorry

[@MasterEditor5]

Can you please explain a bit how you want it as a beginner? I can use your feedback to make a tutorial that would help total beginners

[@Detached_AZ]

@@MasterEditor5 Thank you for replying. I guess it's the "verbiage" and "language" that's just foreign to me. Too many to remember, for sure. I considered your video, though done very well, more intermediate. That's IF you already known the acumen. I was wanting a basic. i.e. IF I have an audio clip that's music, is there a way to create a "crescendo". I looked thru the options but couldn't figure it out. Your video was explained how to get to the shortcuts, well done.

[@MasterEditor5]

@@Detached_AZ Thanks. I have not explained the music in the video, only voice over. The tool you need in Audacity is the Envelope tool. If you watch some tutorials on how the envelope tool works, you will get the idea. Thanks again for the feedback, I will keep that in mind in my future videos.

[@Detached_AZ]

@@MasterEditor5 I did, thank you. It sure helped. Appreciate the help

[@scottminear2579]

This video is one of the most unbearable tutorials I have ever listened to. Yes, info is great but when you are giving a tutorial on audio, a real voice is much more pleasant. I turned this off in less than 2 minutes.

[@MasterEditor5]

In the pinned comment I have a video with my voice.